SalaryByCity

Dental Assistants vs Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Dental Assistants

$47,300

Median annual salary

375,430 employed nationally

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

$59,810

Median annual salary

396,870 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals earn $12,510 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 26.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $91,020 for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$39,130 – $91,020
$36,190$91,020

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental AssistantsHeating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersDifference
10th Percentile$36,190$39,130$-2,940
25th Percentile$39,520$47,850$-8,330
Median (50th)$47,300$59,810$-12,510
75th Percentile$56,910$74,820$-17,910
90th Percentile$61,780$91,020$-29,240
Mean (Average)$48,860$62,690$-13,830

Employment Numbers

Dental Assistants

375,430

employed nationwide

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

396,870

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Dental Assistants

CityMedian
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$65,360
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$64,600
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$62,700
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$60,890
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$59,270

Best Cities for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$83,980
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$77,600
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$76,760
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$76,090
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$75,500

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $12,510 (26.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Dental Assistants?
Dental Assistants salaries range from $36,190 (10th percentile) to $61,780 (90th percentile), with a median of $47,300.
What is the salary range for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers?
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers salaries range from $39,130 (10th percentile) to $91,020 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,810.
How many Dental Assistants and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 396,870 Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers earns $59,810. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS